Carrying case construction



Filed March 22, 1966 H N 1 W F ///i,//////////7 Z L/J L/ L m P IN VENTOR. Gem/a 5. Ike/h e/mer United States Patent 3,381,782 CARRYING CASE CONSTRUCTION Gerald S. Ikelheimer, 1215 th Ave., New York, NY. 10029 Filed Mar. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 536,419 8 Claims. (Cl. 19051) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a carrying case having flexible means for generating interior compartments of variable size and shape.

Carrying cases including partitions for purposes of forming interior compartments are known to the art. However, such cases have, heretofore, not had flexible means for obtaining different arrangements of compartments at will. The partitions in carrying cases of the past were immobile, and their positions could not be changed without affecting the interior construction of the case. Flexibility in moving the partitions within the case to different locations is desirable, because it allows the generation of variable configurations to accommodate different sizes and shapes. Articles carried in such cases are often non-uniform, and accordingly it is desirable to be able to form compartments that conform to the dimensions of the articles to be placed into and held by the compartments. Carrying cases of the past have also not included protective means in combination with the flexible partitioning feature so as to protect fragile articles from damage while being transported in the case.

It i therefore an object of the present invention to provide means for obtaining flexible arrangements of compartments Within the interior of carrying cases.

It is another object of the present invention to protect articles carried in the case, from damage while the case is in transit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means for partitioning the interior of carrying cases so as to accommodate irregular-shaped articles.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide means for dividing panels so that partitions of different sizes may be accommodated in different size carrying cases.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide partitions of simple construction and manufacture for generating compartments in a flexible manner within the interior of carrying cases.

Other objects and advantages appear in the following description and specification taken in conjunction with the drawings in which FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the interior of the carrying case showing different possible arrangements of compartments.

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of a typical partition used for purposes of generating compartments within the carrying case.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary isometric view of an alternate construction of the partition of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of a panel provided with score marks.

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of a partition embodying the panel shown in FIG. 4.

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In accordance with the drawings, the carrying case 1 in the form of an attach case, sample case, or similar means, is lined with protective material 2. The purpose of this protective lining is to prevent damage to the articles lying within the case, as a result of their shift in position while/the case is being transported. The case may be employed to carry fragile articles such as glass, ware, instruments, as well as other item requiring delicate handling. The purpose of the carrying case may be to transport these articles readily between remote locations for displaying and demonstrating the articles by, for example, salesmen.

The protective material 2 may be of a rubberized substance, soft plastics, paper construction, or other material capable of absorbing shock and vibrations. The protective lining in contact with the inside walls of the case 1, is relatively thick for the formation of slits 3 at regular intervals along the inside perimeter. The purpose of these slits is to allow the insertion of partitions 4. When partitions 4 are placed in oppositely located slits, they form compartments within the case. These compartments may then be employed to retain the articles that are to be carried by the case.

The partitions 4 includes slits 5 spaced at regular intervals. These slits 5 are similar to the slits 3, and spacings between slits 5 on the partitions 4, are equivalent to the spacings of slits 3 about the inside walls of the carrying case. Through the inclusion of slits 5, it is possible to insert cross-partitions 6 so as to produce sub-compartments. In this manner, the area within the case may be sub-divided into any desired arrangement. Thus, if, for example, cross-partitions 6 also contain slits 7 similar to those of slits 3 and 5, and the spacings between slits 7 are equivalent to the spacings between slits 3 and 5, a rectangular set of coordinates are obtained which may be translated to any point within the area enclosed by the case. Accordingly, any number of different sizes of compartments may be generated depending on the fineness of the slit spacings. V

Through the use of long partitions 4 and cross partitions 6 of different sizes, any desired arrangement is possible. The cross partitions 6 may be placed between a partition 4 and the inside wall of the case, or they may be placed between partitions. The cross-partitions may also be inserted between other cross-partitions. In this manner any combination of compartments may be realized, and articles of difi'erent shapes and sizes may be held and enclosed in any desired sequence. If the partitions are covered with flexible material similar to that used to line the inside wall of the case, the slits are also flexible, and may be rotated to a certain degree. Accordingly it is possible to place a partition 8 in an oblique manner between slits that are not oppositely located. Through the use of such obliquely located partitions, additional freedom is obtained in generating compartments of irregular shape.

It is unnecessary that the spacing of the slits 3, 5, and 7 be uniform. Irregular spacings may be used for applications in which the articles to be carried by the case, are of definite pre-determined sizes. Furthermore, in those cases where flexibility of rearranging the compartments is not required, it is only necessary to provide slits at locations where the partitions are to be situated. Moreover, it is not necessary that the partitions be of a planar nature. A partition 9 curved to accommodate a specially-shaped article, is quite feasible.

To protect articles fully while being transported in carrying case 1, the protective and shock-absorbing material 2 is also used to cover the bottom of the carrying case, as well as the inside of the cover 10. In this manner,

' an article placed in a compartment, is fully enclosed by shock-absorbing material. The cover 10 may .be made removable so as to allow case 1 to serve also in the capacity of an open display. Furthermore, the handle 11 may .also be made removable so as to further enhance the appearance of the case when it is left to act as an open display. Slits 3 spaced around the interior surface of the case, may extend entirely or partially into the protective material 2.

The construction of a particular partition may be observed by referring to FIGURE 2. The basic frame of the partition if formed by the relatively rigid panel 12. This panel may be planar as shown for the partition 4, or it may be curved corresponding to the shape of a partition shown for that of 9. Protective material similar to that employed to line the inside walls of the case, covers the panel 12. A sheet of the protective material may be rolled over the panel 12 as shown in FIGURE 2, or slabs -13 of the material may be situated against the sides of the panel as shown in FIGURE 3. The protective material 2 may be joined to the panel 12 in either FIGURE 2 or 3, by any of the commonly known cementing substances. Slits may be generated either before or after the material 2 is applied to the panel 12. This construction of the slits is applicable to the design of either FIGURE 2 or 3.

Further according to the present invention a divideable partition is provided to facilitate the insertion thereof in the carrying cases of different sizes. This partition 4a comprises a panel 12a which is provided with score marks 15 and bevelled portions '16 above and below the score marks. The panels are covered with protective material 2 provided with slits 5a around the perimeter and the panel may therefore be made of any size in a continuous run. In order to partition sections of the interior of the carrying case, it is merely necessary to break the partitions along any desired slit 5a and score marks 15. Thereafter, the flange 17 may be provided for insertion in slits of other partitions simply by stripping the protective material from the panel 18 or 19 whereupon this section of the panel is exposed and may be inserted in the aforesaid slits. As a consequence, it is not necessary to provide prefabricated partitions of a particular size, as the partitions may be divided to the proper size when inserted into the carrying case.

While this invention has been described in some detail, this description does not limit the invention for it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A carrying case for fragile articles comprising a bottom portion and a cover portion, said bottom portion having a base and side walls; flexible shock absorbing material disposed adjacent the interior of said side walls, said shock absorbing material having a plurality of slits formed therein at intervals throughout said side walls for partitioning said bottom portion; a panel member having protruding portions disposed in a pair of said slits and flexibly engaged by said shock absorbing material, fiexible shock absorbing material disposed on said panel member having a plurality of slits at intervals throughout the length of said panel member for additional partitioning of said bottom portion, said protruding portions extending beyond said shock absorbing material on said panel.

2. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein said shock absorbing material on said panel member is sheet material rolled over opposite sides of said panel member.

3. The carrying case of claim 1 wherein said shock absorbing material on said panel member is in the form of a pair of slabs disposed on opposite sides of said panel member.

4. The carrying case of claim 1 having a second panel member with a protruding portion disposed in one of said slits of said shock absorbing material adjacent the interior of said side walls and with another protruding portion disposed in one of said slits in said shock absorbing material on said panel, said second panel having flexible shock absorbing material disposed thereon with said protruding portions extending therefrom.

5. The carrying case of claim 4 wherein said panel member has bevelled portions adjacent score marks for facile forming of said panel into the desired size.

6. The carrying case of claim 4 wherein the interior surface of said cover and the base portion of said bottom portion are covered with a shock absorbing material.

7. The carrying case of claim -1 wherein said protruding portions of said panel member are obliquely disposed in said slits and are flexibly engaged by said shock absorbing material.

8. The carrying case of claim 7 wherein said panel is of curved shape.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,674,352 6/1928 Adams 217-7 1,747,390 2/1930 Robb 29-180 2,010,471 8/1935 Ygberg 217-7 2,245,999 6/ 1941 Plotkin -51 3,067,903 12/1962 Jones 220-22 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,054 6/ 1902 Switzerland. 290,547 5/ 3 Switzerland.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examirzer.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner. 

